Which States May Pass New Voices in 2025
Pennsylvania is making significant strides in its pursuit of New Voices legislation. It joins five other states with active bills in their state legislatures. As states gear up for their legislative sessions, a handful of New Voices teams have introduced (or reintroduced) bills to protect student journalists’ free speech rights. Eighteen states have passed New…
Read MoreNavigating legal challenges: Essential advice for student journalists covering immigration
Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel from the Student Press Law Center, talks with Diana Day from the Scholastic Press Rights Committee about what young journalists need to know about their legal rights and responsibilities when covering immigration topics. Scholastic journalists across the country are grappling with a number of ethical and logistical challenges when reporting…
Read MoreAmerica is…
“The one thing that I think is vital — our most important obligation,” Mark Goodman, former Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center and of the Center of Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University, said. “We HAVE to teach students that censorship is wrong, morally, educationally, journalistically, even when it cannot be avoided or…
Read MoreWhat is the purpose of your student publication?
Developing student-led mission statements and a culture covering stories that matter can serve both school and local communities. Many years ago, I was confronted by an angry parent after a long production meeting. She felt her daughter, an editor, spent too much time working on the paper. “This isn’t the New York Times!” she reminded…
Read MoreVideo series gives crash course in press rights issues
If you’re looking for a quick refresher on press rights issues, a potential class bellringer or something to spark discussions in class, check out this video series created by SPRC member Tripp Robbins. The series, which Robbins created for his MJE project, delves into issues from FERPA to hate speech to covering protests. Robbins worked…
Read MoreNew frontiers: Voting as speech
Overview In this lesson, students will explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, voting rights and the First Amendment. By analyzing how AI can influence the democratic process, including voter suppression, gerrymandering and misinformation, students will also consider voting as a form of protected speech under the First Amendment. They will discuss whether restrictions on voting…
Read MoreFree expression and us album: Music, the First Amendment and textual analysis
Overview This project integrates knowledge of the First Amendment with students’ favorite form of entertainment: music. Students will critically analyze song lyrics and themes, connecting them to First Amendment rights. They will work in groups to create an “album” that teaches others about freedom of speech, press, religion, petition, and assembly, demonstrating their comprehension through…
Read More12 ways to teach the 2024 election with The New York Times
The New York Times offers engaging, adaptable strategies to help educators explore the 2024 election with their students in meaningful ways, just in time for Constitution Day activities. The guide features 12 diverse teaching methods, encouraging students to reflect on their identities, understand the Electoral College, monitor misinformation, and follow political news. It also includes…
Read MoreArtificial intelligence, the First Amendment and democracy
Overview This lesson explores the implications of artificial intelligence on the First Amendment, focusing on freedom of speech and the press. With AI technologies evolving rapidly, students will critically analyze how AI might influence public discourse, truth and accountability. Students will also explore the potential legal ramifications of AI-generated content and the challenges it poses…
Read MoreStudent expression shouldn’t be foreign to journalists
To appreciate our freedom of speech and freedom of expression, travel abroad. Unfortunately, there are those in this country who think freedoms of expression need to be controlled, especially when they are extolled by students. When we recently visited Macao our tour guide pointed to a group handing out information about their religious beliefs. The…
Read More